Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
29 The glory of
young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts
of the belly.
Proverbs 20:29-30 (AMP):
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their
gray head (suggesting wisdom and experience.)
30 Blows that wound cleanse
away evil, and strokes (for correction) reach to the innermost parts.
These verses in Proverbs tell us there
should be no generational gap, as both young and old are needed and they also
point out the need for correction. Verse 29 points out that the
younger men are needed for strength while the older men are needed for their
wisdom and experience. Cultures who do not utilize this truth about the
experience and wisdom of the elders in a society, waste the resources that are
within their older citizens. Some people are waking up to the need for this and
are finding a wealth of knowledge that can be used to lighten the load for the
younger ones. While the old men cannot physically employ the many
different ideas because they may have some physical constraints; they can
share with the younger generation and they can implement those ideas. This
does not mean the young men cannot add their ideas, they should. Building
on the foundation of the elders should make the young men's ideas and plans even
greater! This verse simply points out the strengths of both generations. They
need each other.
We are seeing what happens to young men who
are raised without a father figure right now in our society. Many are
totally dysfunctional. They become aimless and rebellious without a father's
guidance. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:28: Remove not the ancient
landmark, which thy fathers have set. This simply means that children should
not tear down those parameters and standards that the fathers have set.
They know many things that are harmful for them, or things that will work, and
things that will not work, just from experience.
Even in the church, we are commanded of
the Lord to build on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Ephesians
2:19-20: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone. Because of deception, many people are embracing false
doctrines because they have failed to build on the doctrine of Christ, which He
establishes through His apostles and prophets and the Bible. Hebrews 13:17
says, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for
they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
In our study today, verse 30, also
tells us through an analogy that correction that comes by blows and strokes
aimed at rebellious actions will produce a cleansing effect. When children are
not disciplined by spanking they end up rebellious and unruly. A little
accidental bruise an their buttocks from a spanking is better than seeing them
end up being destroyed by rebellion. If you tell a child not to do
something that is dangerous and they persist it could kill them. An example
would be to tell them not to run into the street as they might get run over.
Some children that are head strong have to have a spanking to get the message
across. Now we are not advocating beating a child in an angry rage, but a
good swat on the behind has helped many a child to listen to what you are saying
in order to prevent the child from danger.
Proverbs 13:24 (KJV): He that spareth his
rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 13:24 (AMP): He who spares his rod
(of discipline) hates his son, but he who loves him diligently disciplines and
punishes him early.
Dear Heavenly Father, We pray today for the
restoration of the generation gap. May the fathers have Your wisdom in
dealing with their children. May the young men respect and honor their
elders. Lord, convict fathers to be the proper role models for their children
and love their children with Your love. Your disciplines are never done to
destroy us, but to correct and turn us away from the things that are harming us.
May the fathers look to You as how to deal with their rebellious children. Lord,
give the children and young men submissive spirits so that they heed their
father's good advice and may they offer their strength to help their fathers.
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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